History Behind Issue: This is the second part of the story which
appeared in issue 8 which was originally going to be part of a
double sized issue.

Plot: The Flying Dutchmans actions having not attracted
the Surfer, makes the impatient Mephisto send a telepathic signal to the Surfer. The
Surfer now sensing danger flies down to earths surface where he sees the police
unsuccessfully trying to Deal with the Dutchman, who is only interested in the Surfer.

The Surfer makes his entrance by releasing a cosmic blast right next to the Dutchman,
knocking him back. The Dutchman seeing his target declares in the third person that he has
found his target at last. The Surfer is shocked to hear that the grim and ghastly legend
of the Flying Dutchman is true (question has to be asked is how did he hear of this?
Perhaps a good place to start an untold tales of the Silver Surfer)! The Flying Dutchman
then attacks the Surfer in the name of Mephisto and the Surfer now knows he should of
realised sooner where the smell of fire and Brimstone has come from.

The Surfer now under attack won't fire back because of risking harm
to the nearby police officers, but eventually he fires back, much to his regret, hoping
that he could find another way to defend himself. Then he has the answer, he falls to the
floor seemingly writhing from agony waiting for the Dutchman to get closer. But Mephisto
has given the Dutchman the ability to sense deception and so he doesnt buy the
Surfers trick and continues firing at him. But the Surfer it seems is one step ahead, and
using the control over his board, gets it to block the Dutchmans attack, before
flying away to make his escape.

But getting away is harder than the surfer thinks, as he tries to
make his escape but the Dutchman is right on his heels chasing him in his flying ship.
When in range the Dutchman grabs the surfers feet in energy and separates the Surfer
from his board. Letting the Surfer fall to the ground, but the Surfer defiant, blasts the
ship with his energy bolts. But not even the Surfer can harm a ghost or the ghostly vessel
that carries him!

Back in the realm of the damned, Mephisto is watching the action
with glee, believing that his goal of taking the Surfers soul is at last within his grasp
at last. Unable to contain his excitement any longer he teleports himself for a closer
view of the battle, but appears amongst a crowd of people. Shocked one of the people, a
policeman, approaches Mephisto and starts telling the lord of lies not to do that again.
Mephisto not amused replies Silence Mortal! None may raise his voice to the lord of
the lower depths! and sends the crowd spiralling into the air. But to Mephisto the
humans are really below his notice Does the Lion pay heed to the mouthings of
Ants? he thinks before restoring the crowd back to normal with their memories of the
event having been wiped. He then turns himself invisible to all, even the Surfers extra
ordinary senses, and proceeds to the battle.

There he finds the Surfer trying to draw the Dutchman away from the
city, but before he can fly any further he is struck by an energy bolt originating from in
front of him. The Surfer, Unaware that it is the invisible form of Mephisto who has struck
him, lies on the floor which gives the Dutchman enough time to attack the Surfer, sending
him hurtling through to the tube station below. The surfer lands on the tracks as an
impending train hurtles towards him but the Surfer able to react in time, halts the train
before it collides with him.

Before the Surfer could get up, the Dutchman jumps through the hole
in the road and attacks the Surfer. But is somewhat surprised when the Surfer attacks back
and hurls the Dutchman back into a steel ceiling support. The Surfer then summons his
board to him but Mephisto not wanting the Surfer to leave halts the board in mid-air, he
then calls to the Dutchman to strike. And strike the Dutchman does, while at the same time
telling the Surfer to pledge his soul to Mephisto. Again the Surfer will not give in to
Mephistos wishes and still resists even if he is to die If death must be
mine then let it come! All life is fleeting! But a soul is more than life! The soul
is forever vows the Surfer.

Hearing this Mephisto appears and tells the Dutchman to attack the
Surfers Achilles heel, the humans that are still in the station. So the Dutchman grabs a
nearby girl and tells the Surfer to surrender his soul or know that he has caused the
death of the girl. The Surfer pleads with the Dutchman to release the girl but the
Dutchman is not listening and strikes the Surfer repeatedly. The Surfer riving in agony is
wandering how he can defeat Mephisto but save the girl at the same time, and at last comes
up with a plan.

Summoning all the available cosmic energy from beyond the
Earths atmosphere he can get, he then hurls this at the Dutchman knocking him down
without touching the girl! The knocked down Dutchman is restored to full strength by
Mephisto to attack the drained Surfer. But not even the Dutchman is beyond redemption
 I renounce my pledge though I may never know rest .I will serve you ..No
more!

Hearing this Mephisto starts to send the Dutchman back to limbo. The
Surfer as noble as ever, rushes up to the fading Dutchman and tells him that he is sorry
for what has happened to him and it is unfortunate that his sacrifice was too late, while
shedding a tear for the Fallen Dutchman. But all is not lost, as this tear now frees the
Dutchmans soul from his Curse of Limbo, because only a tear of forgiveness could
free his soul.

With the Dutchman liberated the Surfer turns to the disappearing
Mephisto and tells him he has lost to Good again. So I have been cheated of two
victims! But the more I lose...The more I win For my hatred feeds upon
itself and Mephisto can never accept defeat replies the lord of lies as he
departs leaving the Surfer to roam the earth free again.

Comments: These two issues together make an above average tale that
is pleasing to read but wont want you begging for more. I especially enjoyed the way
that Mephisto treated the Satan Worshipper, having appeared the Satanic follower gets more
than he bargained for when Mephisto uses him as a human target for the Dutchman. A special
note has to go to John Buscemas art work, I dont think I could imagine any
other artist making the Dutchman look more sinister.

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